The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 215

**TITLE: Chasing Light, Finding Peace by Rohan Verma**

Autumn found herself in a peculiar situation, one that felt slightly off-kilter.

Yet, she refrained from pressing Owen for further clarification.

After all, he must have had his reasons for orchestrating everything in such a manner.

Technically speaking, she was the one reaping the benefits of this entire arrangement.

He had meticulously planned every detail; she was merely here to participate in the motions he had set in place.

“If you’re satisfied with everything as it is, shall we make our way out?”

Owen extended his hand to her, an invitation that felt both reassuring and slightly intimidating. “Go on and choose some jewelry. If nothing catches your eye, I can arrange for more options to be sent over.”

Autumn hesitated for a moment as she placed her hand in his.

That unexpected gesture caught her off guard. “Have them sent over?” she questioned, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Owen nodded, his expression calm. “Did I not mention? This entire selection comes from the Bennett family’s exclusive collection.”

“Huh?”

A family like the Bennetts, she mused, their private collection must be overflowing with invaluable, unique treasures.

The thought of adorning herself with something so precious made her feel a wave of awkwardness wash over her.

“Isn’t there a chance we could just pick any set?”

Autumn was genuinely perplexed. What kind of occasion could possibly warrant such extravagance?

The mere fact that they were delving into the Bennett family’s private stash was baffling.

But Owen seemed disinclined to elaborate. “You’ll understand soon enough,” he said, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

With that, he guided her out of the dressing room.

To her surprise, Ruby and Ava were nowhere to be found. As they entered the main salon, Autumn was greeted by a delightful display of snacks and tea, the aromas wafting through the air were utterly enticing. Her stomach grumbled softly, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten in a while.

“Would you care for a snack, Mrs. Bennett? We prepared these delightful treats just for you,” a staff member offered, their voice warm and inviting.

Autumn nodded, her appetite piqued. “Yes, I would love a little something, thank you.”

In an instant, someone was at her side, pouring her tea and presenting her with an array of delectable snacks.

This level of service was entirely new to Autumn; it felt both surreal and slightly overwhelming. Yet, she composed herself, determined to maintain grace and poise, mindful of Owen’s presence.

Despite her efforts, navigating through this entire experience was undeniably exhausting.

She couldn’t help but admire women like Ava.

Is this truly the life they yearn for? The one they claw their way up the social ladder for, all in pursuit of a wealthy husband?

It felt as though there was no freedom to be found in this world. All these possessions seemed so superficial.

Autumn genuinely struggled to understand what was worth fighting for.

“This jewelry set complements the gown beautifully, Mrs. Bennett. What are your thoughts?”

The designer, who also owned the boutique, had an impressive eye for detail.

When Autumn caught sight of the box she held out, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of the magnificent pearl necklace nestled inside.

“Are these pearls authentic?”

Pearls might not hold the same value as diamonds or gold, and their worth had been declining with the rise of cultured varieties over the years.

Yet, it was extraordinarily rare to encounter pearls of such size and perfection, each one seemingly glowing with an inner light of its own.

The eighteen pearls on this necklace were strikingly uniform in size, shape, and luster.

They resembled a collection of identical octodecaplets, their visual impact rivaling that of any diamond or gold piece.

“They are indeed real. These are exceptionally rare freshwater pearls. They feel cool and smooth against your skin, and they almost seem to radiate when worn,” the designer explained, her pride evident.

“They’re gone. We should leave too,” Ruby muttered, her tone heavy with humiliation.

Today had been a crushing blow to her pride.

No one could have anticipated Owen’s arrival, let alone the fact that he would confront them so boldly over Autumn.

The realization that she, Owen’s own aunt, had been intimidated by him in such a way filled her with a burning sense of shame. She felt as though she had lost every ounce of dignity.

She had wanted to leave before Owen completely lost his temper, but Ava, ever the stubborn mule, had insisted on waiting.

Thus, they were forced to witness Owen and Autumn depart together, looking like the perfect couple, while they remained hidden like rats in a sewer.

Ruby felt a pounding headache creeping in. She couldn’t endure this any longer. Reaching for Ava, her voice turned steely. “It’s getting late. We need to go!”

Ava’s gaze remained fixed on the elevator doors. Frustrated by Ruby’s uselessness and her apparent desire to ruin everything, she angrily shook off Ruby’s hand. “Go, go, go! Is running away all you know how to do when things get tough?”

“What else are we supposed to do besides flee?”

Ruby’s temper flared. “Did you not hear what Owen said back there? Do you really think you can go against him?” she pressed sharply.

“Ava, he’s made his stance abundantly clear. Are you still planning to chase after him?”

Ava’s face flushed with anger, then paled as reality set in.

“What do you mean by that? I brought you here to help me buy a dress, not to lecture me!”

The image of Owen standing up for Autumn ignited a fiery rage within her chest.

“Let me make this clear! I want that dress, and you need to find a way to get me one that’s even more stunning. If you don’t, I swear I’ll have my uncle divorce you!”

“And you call yourself a Bennett? Did you see how little attention Owen paid you? It’s downright pathetic. In his eyes, you’re probably not worth more than some freeloading relative!”

With that, Ava tossed her hair back and strode away, her head held high.

Ruby was so furious she felt as if she might implode on the spot.

What had she done to deserve this? To be so utterly humiliated by a petulant child who had torn her dignity to shreds and trampled it into the ground.